a-zotov.ru

What It Is

This is an “actor-director intensive training camp” initiated by Russian director and screenwriter Alexey Zotov. It is designed for actors and directors and runs for two days, July 24–25, from 10:00 to 18:00 each day. The venue is a loft space in Moscow near the Taganskaya and Kurskaya metro stations. The course is explicitly offline, with no recordings provided.

Core Content

The course focuses on screen acting and directing. Topics include action analysis, conflict, goals and tasks, events, blocking, rhythm, on-camera presence, comedy performance, improvisation, auditions, and on-set work. The practical component uses real scripts for audition exercises: actors complete auditions, receive feedback from the director, and receive edited audition videos a few days after the course ends. Director participants learn how to work with actors, set tasks, and block scenes, and there is also a separate theory module for directors.

Pricing and Format

The course costs 40,000 rubles. Only the full two-day program can be purchased; single-day tickets are not available. Class size is capped at 10 people, with an emphasis on combining theory and practice. The refund policy is relatively strict: refunds are available more than 10 days before the course starts, but not within 10 days of the start date. The page does not specify whether a certificate is provided, what payment methods are accepted, or whether there is any follow-up community support.

Pros and Cons

The strengths are the small class size, relatively high amount of hands-on practice, and instruction from a practitioner with experience as a film and TV director and screenwriter. The feedback is likely to be direct, making it suitable for actors who want to address specific questions such as “why am I not passing auditions?” or “where are my weaknesses on camera?” Directors can also observe real actor work in practice.

The drawbacks are that the course is very short, making it more of an intensive workshop than a systematic long-term training program. It mainly emphasizes comedy; although the page says it can also apply to other areas, the focus is still fairly clear. The course is offline only, has no recordings, and is taught in Russian, which creates a high barrier for non-Russian speakers and anyone not based in Moscow.

Who It’s For and Access From China

This is best suited to film and TV practitioners who already have some acting or directing foundation and want face-to-face feedback. Even if users in China can access the website, they would still need to consider language, visa, travel, and the cost of attending in person. The text does not indicate whether the website is accessible from mainland China, so this remains unknown.